Xanxan Xkaffa by Smallgran studio is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2017 Premju A' Design Award tal-Bronż in Disinn tal-Għamara Competition Category.

BronżGħamara· 2017

Xanxan Xkaffa

by Smallgran studio

Client: Smallgran

Premju A' Design Award tal-Bronż Winner in Għamara Category

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Verified Award Winner
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Colors

The Design

About Xanxan Xkaffa

Xanxan hija xkaffa b'konfigurazzjonijiet li jistgħu jiġu personalizzati, iddisinjata biex tnaqqas l-ispazju ta' trasport u ħżin. Id-disinn jikkonsisti f'żewġ arblu ta' ankraġġ li magħhom hija mwaħħla xibka ta' spag. Mekkaniżmu sempliċi jippermetti lill-utent li jaġġusta t-tensjoni ta' kull spag u li joħloq wiċċ ta' appoġġ dritt. Xanxan iżomm l-istess oġġetti bħal xkaffa standard u tista' tintuża wkoll bħala mgħallaq. Meta mqabbla ma' xkaffa standard, Xanxan tuża seba' darbiet inqas injam, teħtieġ disa' darbiet inqas spazju ta' ħżin u tiżen erba' darbiet inqas. L-arbli tal-ankraġġ huma magħmula mill-injam tal-maple.

The Recognition

About the Premju A' Design Award tal-Bronż

Xanxan Xkaffa huwa rebbieħ tal-Premju A' Design Award tal-Bronż, rikonoxximent prestiġjuż ħafna mogħti lil disinji eċċellenti ddistingwuti mill-kreattività, l-ingenwità u l-għaqal. Ir-rebbieħa tal-Bronż huma xogħlijiet bi ħila biżżejjed u kreattivi b'mod impressjonanti li jawtentikaw l-esperjenza vasta, l-immaġinazzjoni u l-ħila ta' riżorsi tad-disinjaturi tagħhom. Huwa mistenni li Xanxan Xkaffa ikun oġġett imqabbar ħafna, mammirat u maħbub, notevolment professjonali u innovattiv. Dan id-disinn rebbieħ tal-Bronż jinkorporaw l-aħjar prattiki fl-arti, ix-xjenza, id-disinn u t-teknoloġija u huwa eċċellenti fl-attenzjoni għad-dettalji. Xanxan Xkaffa jissodisfa l-ħtiġijiet b'mod eċċellenti, imiss ix-xewqat, jinċanta s-sentimenti u jattira l-kurżità.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Xanxan is a shelf featuring customizable configurations and optimized transport and storage space.
The product consists of two anchor posts to which a web of strings is fastened. It includes a simple mechanism that allows the user to adjust the tension of each string in order to provide a straight support surface.
Xanxan can hold everything a standard shelf holds and it can act as a hanger, too. But more importantly: compared to a standard shelf, Xanxan uses seven times less wood, requires a storage space nine times lower and weights four times less.
Dimensions & Packaging: Product: 300-1500* mm x 220 mm x 85 mm.
* This dimension depends on how it is installed.

Package: 90 mm x 70 mm x 245 mm

Weight supported: up to 20 kg.
Tags: Xanxan, Minimum Shelf, Shelf, Adaptable, Customizable, Hanger, Space Saving, Material Saving, Sustainable, Cord, Rope
Production Technology: The wooden pieces are formed by lathing the hard Maple Wood and later drilling the holes: three for the screws at the base and four for the strings at the pole. This process can be done by hand for loose units or through automated processes for industrial scale units.
The string is a standard Paracord that the user cuts at a specific length according to the distance at which the two anchor posts are installed.
Design Challenge: The main design challenge was to develop a fresh solution while reducing the material and ecological cost of an existing concept.
From the technical perspective, we had three challenges:
- Designing a tensioning mechanism. It had to fix the strings allowing for progressive tensioning and we needed to keep it simple to maintain the cost low.
- Finding a wood that is light-weight, cheap, resistant and tough enough.
- Finding a rope that holds its mechanical and dimensional properties over time.
Research: This project was driven by market research and experimentation.
After finding a market niche in adaptable shelves, the concept design phase was based on modeling and testing. We had to meet the requisites fixed by the best-selling shelves, so we developed several prototypes and tested them. The final solution was picked based on its simplicity, performance and interaction.
At the detailed design phase, we worked with master carpenters to pick the best materials and shape manufacture-wise.
Inspiration: Xanxan was first conceived under the challenge of reducing the material cost and ecological impact of an existing concept. As market research went on, the lack of flexibility and adaptability of the existing shelves to user and space needs drove the project to the final solution.
The project was self-commissioned from the studio itself as a means to prove its design skills.
Project Duration: The project started in the Polytechnical University of Valencia, where its first 5 months of development took part. After finishing their degree, Smallgran founders created the Valencia based studio where the design was then finished after 7 more months of work.
Operation Flow: For the installation, the user first needs to decide the position of each post. With the anchor posts fixed, four string segments are then tied to them in a zig-zag manner. After the strings are installed, the pegs must be turned. With every turn, the strand twists on itself increasing its tension becoming able to support weight.
Once the strings are taut, the shelf can be filled with books, Cd's, etc. Over time the shelf can lose its tension, this is fixed by giving the pegs a few more turns.
Team Members: Luis Herram
Carles Marquina Selfa
Francesc Duart Escribà
Carlos Carrasco Fraile
Borja Miret García
Image Credits: Image #1: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #2: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #3: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #4: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.
Image #5: Smallgran, Xanxan, 2016.